Sorakkai Kootu is a South Indian dish that goes well with rice and roti. It is a healthy food, suitable for kid's lunchboxes, protein-rich food for vegetarians. It can be given to babies over 9 months with mashed rice, it is a side dish to kara kuzhambu and thogayal varieties. I used a pressure cooker for this dish, you can use a pressure cooker or a regular pan.
- 300 grams Bottle gourd
- 1/4 cup Moong dal
- 1 Onion
- 1 tsp Oil
- 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
- Few Curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp Urad dal
- 2 Red chillis
- 1 pinch Turmeric powder
- 1 pinch Asafoetida
- salt as needed
- 4 tsp Grated coconut
- 2 tsp Fried gram
- 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
-
Wash and cook the toor dal.
-
Peel the bottle gourd and cut it into small pieces.
-
Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pressure pan. Add mustard seeds, when it splutters add urad dal, curry leaves, red chillis, and asafoetida.
-
Add the onions, saute for 2 to 3 minutes or until it becomes translucent.
-
Add bottle gourd, saute for a minute.
-
Add salt and turmeric powder, mix everything well.
-
Add cooked dal, bring it to a boil.
-
Cook covered for 15 minutes or pressure cook for 1 whistle.
-
Meanwhile, in a mixer jar, add grated coconut, roasted gram, and cumin seeds and grind a smooth paste with a little water.
-
Once the pressure is released, add the ground paste, cook for a minute and turn off the flame.
-
Serve hot with rice or roti.